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Top 5 Things You Should Know Before Heading Back to College

August 9, 2010 at 2:24 PM ET by Julia Simmons and Sophia Solomon
Summary: 
Thousands of college students will be heading back to school in the next few weeks, so here’s a list of the top five things you need to know before you head back to school.

Today President Obama is traveling to the University of Texas at Austin to discuss what the Administration is doing to meet his goal of having the highest proportion of college graduates by 2020. Thousands of college students will be heading back to school in the next few weeks, so here’s a list of the top five things you need to know before you head back to school:

  1. Many students' wallets are going to be a little heavier. The President has invested more than $40 billion in Pell Grants and provided support to help these scholarships keep pace with inflation in the coming years. The great thing about Pell Grants is that they are free and clear – they don’t have to be paid back if your family qualifies. Since taking office, the President has helped grow the maximum Pell Grant scholarship by $800. This is real money that students and families can use to pay for tuition and fees.
  2. If you don’t have a job after graduation lined up and are stressed about health insurance, don’t worry. If you’re under 26 years of age, may be already be able to get on a parent’s health insurance plan – and all plans will allow this in September.
  3. Not ready for a 4 year institution? Community colleges are a great alternative, and they will receive an extra $2 billion over the next four years to invest in degree and training programs that will prepare you for the jobs of the future. 
  4. If you attend one of America’s 105 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) or 225 Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs), your school might get a cut of $2.55 billion in coming years. That means better courses, facilities, and programs for you.
  5. Interested in pursuing a career in math or science? The Department of Energy, in partnership with the National Science Foundation, will dedicate $19 million in funds for its undergraduate and graduate fellowship, scholarship, and traineeship programs.

Click here for more information on President Obama's agenda for higher education.